Film-fire extinguisher.



vC. A. TRANTHAM.

HLM FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPucATlou E|LED1uNE6.1917.

1,266,353. Patented May14,1918.

INVENTOR.

WITNESS:

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ATTORNEY.

CLYDE A. TRANTHAM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FILM-FIRE EXTINGUISHEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed .Tune 6, 1917. Serial No. 173,193.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE A. TRANTHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Film-Fire Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to film lire extinguishers, and my object is to provide simple, inexpensive, and efficient means of this character for use on motion picture film containers of all descriptions, such, for instance as film magazines, film boxes in booths, etc.

The invention embodies means whereby chemicals are automatically applied to ilms should they take iire while in a container, for the purpose of extinguishing such fire before it can 'attain much headway.

The chemicals employed may be either in liquid or powdered form, as preferred, and can be applied to the fire through the force of gravity, air pressure, pumps, etc.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lm Container provided with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line II-II of Fig. 1.

VVhlle as above stated, the invention can be applied to any typeand shape of film container, in the present instance, I have shown it in conjunction with a magazine 1 such as is commonly used on motion picture machines. Said magazine is usually made of fire-proof material, such as sheet metal, and contains a reel 2 upon which the film lis wound.

When the fire extin uishing chemicals are to be applied to the urning film through the force of gravity, I arrange the chamber 4 for holding said chemicals on top of the magazine 1, as disclosed by the drawings. The top of the magazine 1 and the bottom of the chamber 4 are separated by a partition 6 having a plurality of perforations 7 therein, normally closed by a fusible member 9, which may be soldered to the underside of the partition 6 to form a fluid-tight joint. The fusible member 9 is further held in place by a retaining member 12 reliably secured to the walls of the magazine 1 by suitable means, such as bolts 13. As disclosed by Fig. 2, the retaining member 12 therefrom upon the burnin has perforations 14 which register with the perforatlons 7 in the partition 6. The perforations 14 perform the dual function of,

first, permitting the iame from the burning film to impinge against the fusible member 9 and, second, in permitting the lire extinguishing chemicals in the chamber 4 to fiow lm. The chamber 4 is supplie with chemicals through an opening 16 normally closed by a cap l having an air port 18 therein normally closed by a valve 20, having a stem 21 extending through a guide 22 and provided at its lower end with a disk 23. A coil spring 24, bears against said disk 23' and the guide 22, and embraces the stem 2 1, as disclosed by Fig. 2. The guide 22 is narrower than the opening 16, and iixedly-secured to the inner surface of the top wall of the magazine 1.

In prac-tice, should the film take fire theflame enters the perforations 14 and melts those portions of the fusible member 9, closing communication between the openings 7 and 14. The chemicals then flow through said openings 7 and 14 and extinguish the tire.' As the chemicals flow from the chamber 4, a vacuum is prevented from forming in the latter and arresting the downward ow of the chemicals by air admitted through the port 18, which is opened by the valve 20 being forced downwardly by the spring 24 just as soon as that portion of the fusible member 9 beneath the disk 23 is melted.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have produced efficient means for extinguishing fires caused by films igniting in their containers, and while I have shown and described but one form of the invention, I reserve the right to make such changes in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a film container, a chamber adapted to hold fire extinguishing chemicals, a perforated partition between the film container and said chamber, and a fusible member to normally close said perforation's. Y

2. In combinationA with a film container, a chamber adapted to hold fire extinguishing chemicals, and a fusible member normally closing communication between. 'said chamber and the lm container, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a iilm container, a chamber adapted to hold fire extinguishing chemicals, a perforated partition between the film container and said chamber, a fusible member to normally close said perforations, and a retaining devlce adapted to secure said fusible member in place and having perforations in line with the perforations 1n the partition.

4. In combination with a lm container, a chamber adapted to hold fire extinguishing 1,2eo,ass

chemicals, and provided with an o ening through whlch 1t may be supplied wit such chemicals, acap for closing said o enng and provided wlth an air port, a vaFve to normally close said air port, and a fusible membei` between the chamber and the film contalner, which normally holds said valve in closed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

CLYDE A. TRANTHAM. Witnesses:

F. G. FISCHER, L. J. FISCHER. 

